human sickneses spread to rabbits?

[mocha200]

Can human sicknesses spread to rabbits? i am wondering cuz i just found out i have pink eye and was wndering if it can spread to rabbits? or if any other sicknesses can. i didn’t think it could but i wanted to make sure.

Thanks!

[Elrohwen]

I don’t know about pink eye specifically, but I know that most common human sicknesses (colds, etc) cannot be spread to bunnies. Maybe you could call the vet and ask?

I hope you get better soon!

[Sarita]

If your pink eye is due to a bacterial infection it can be spread to your rabbit. Make sure you clean your hands well if you touch around your eye area before you touch your rabbit.

[mocha200]

ok. thanks do you know if any other sicknesses can spread?

[Elrohwen]

Mocha, here’s a list I found. http://www.medirabbit.com/Zoonotic/Zoonotic_main.htm

Most aren’t particularly common, other than parasites like fleas and ticks.

[mocha200]

Posted By Elrohwen on 05/20/2010 12:53 PM
I don’t know about pink eye specifically, but I know that most common human sicknesses (colds, etc) cannot be spread to bunnies. Maybe you could call the vet and ask?

I hope you get better soon!

 

 

thanks, i hope i do to, cuz i have a dance recital this weekend.

[Elrohwen]

My understanding is that pink eye can be caused by a virus or a bacteria. In the case of a virus, it couldn’t transmit to bunnies. In the case of a bacteria, I suppose it’s possible. I’ve been trying to research on Google and it doesn’t seem that it can be transmitted to other animals, but that might only be for the virus version. Either way, I would follow Sarita’s advice and wash your hands before handling the bunnies or their things, just in case.

[mocha200]

can it spread to cats? we have five and i am always putting my face by theres!

[Elrohwen]

I think I would go by the same rule – if it’s bacterial, it’s possible I guess. If it’s viral, then no. Cats, dogs, bunnies all have their own conjunctivitis and they can’t be passed from one to the other. But bacteria is less specific.

Did you see a doctor about it? Were they able to tell you which it was? In my experience the viral form is more common and typically known as “pink eye” (all forms can be called conjunctivitis I believe) - I don’t know anyone who’s had the bacteria form, but that’s doesn’t mean it’s not out there.

eta: Basically, I think it’s unlikely, but washing your hands before touching your pets can’t hurt. And a call to the vet just to check can’t hurt either.

[Elrohwen]

Another reason you should wash your hands is that if you touch the cats, then your family touches the cats, they can get pink eye. When I was a baby I had pink eye and my dad held me before he went to work and didn’t wash his hands. He went to a meeting and shook hands with his boss, and a few days later the boss had pink eye! Haha. So it’s very transmittable from person to person.

[mocha200]

yes ok. no i have not seen a doctor cuz i just found out i had it about an hour ago when we were eating lunch. my mom said to me ” it looks like your eye is really red” and when she looked at it she said “i would think it was pink eye but you don’t have any crusty stuff bye your eye.” well i hadn’t told her when i woke up this morning i could beary open my eye i had so much crust in it. i know it sounds grose sorry.

[Elrohwen]

Haha. Yep, sounds like pink eye.

[mocha200]

i am trying to be careful now but my family could have gotten it before i knew.

[RabbitPam]

It’s nice to keep from touching or getting too close to people when you’re sick (I don’t appreciate coworkers who keep coming to work with fevers, colds, etc. and think they’re needed as they infect us all). You don’t want to spread anything, no matter what the illness. I would apply the same consideration to pets. You need to touch them up to a point, but avoiding contact when you are sick will keep them from any exposure, and you from any new germs that they might have picked up from someone else as well. Wash the hands, drink the fluids, touch the nasty teacher you wanted to get revenge on….feel better.

[mocha200]

i am going to the doctor soon. i am not going for my eye though even though we will tell him to look at it. i have been having a really bad cold, and last night i woke up twice my throat hert so bad i couldn’t swallow. i hope it isn’t really pink eye, even though i am pretty sure it is.

[KatnipCrzy]

I agree with what everyone has said so far- as long as you keep your hands clean, etc it should be fine- I would stay away from cuddling the cats against your face though.  My cats LOVE to cuddle with me especially when I am sick- so it might be tough- but better safe than sorry.  I have a feeling that most likely the doctor might prescribe something for your eye- but will not be able to tell you if it is bacterial or viral in nature- as it it common to just treat the problem and only get into exact diagnosis if it does not resolve.  “pink eye” is a general term and more of a description than a true diagnosis of the problem.  But by the time you wait for test results it will probably have resolved with treatment- so it is an added delay and expense.

There are not many things that rabbits can catch from humans and vice versa- the other is mainly parasites or fungal infections- worms, fleas, ticks, ringworm (fungal).

[Deleted User]

Mocha, I hope you get better soon!

[mocha200]

well i just got back. they said i have a synise infection ( i have no idea how to spell that, sorry), maybe strep throat and he said it doesn’t look like i have pink eye cuz it is not pussy and stuff. but he said if it got worse he would give me eye drops. the med he gave me should help my eye to. i am so glad that it probably isn’t pink eye.

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